Features

Sustainable buildings

Sustainable buildings present unique challenges in acoustic design including considerations as to the materials allowed, low internal noise level, energy efficiency and emissions. However, the opportunity exists to satisfy these challenges with sound masking systems.

Quiet spaces

In green buildings, the noise of a traditional HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) unit is replaced by the quiet of natural ventilation and radiant cooling. Intrusive noise and a lack of speech privacy is suddenly a bigger problem because of the low internal noise level.

These issues are addressed by adding a wash of non-intrusive background sound via a sound masking system. Rather than white or pink noise, Soundmask uses a unique randomised gaussian sound to ensure user comfort.

Materials

Another issue in a sustainable building is the elimination of fibreglass or other unsustainable ceiling tiles. These tiles are then replaced with a lower weight synthetic tile or no tiles at all. In such situations, the tiles no longer absorb sound. Further, diffusing sound becomes a problem for some sound masking products where the soffit is covered with non-reflective thermal panels.

Soundmask has developed an acoustic disc (pictured) which gives an excellent spread of sound and can in fact open up the speaker grid. Soundmask’s systems become no less diffusive and can be installed above layers of plaster board with equal results.

Energy efficiency

In order to achieve green star ratings, the energy efficiency of a sustainable building becomes important. Soundmask’s systems are so energy efficient that an entire building can run Soundmask’s systems using less power than a standard Desktop PC.

Using a Soundmask system in acoustic design satisfies considerations of efficacy and sustainability. Soundmask’s systems comply with RoHS standards and the speakers are halogen-free. Having met the challenge with installations in six green star rated buildings and other green star rated buildings, Soundmask’s systems are tried and tested for your sustainable building.

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Council House 2, Melbourne

The Council House 2 ("CH2") building in Melbourne, Australia, is said to be "The World's Greenest Office Building". The office environment was so quiet that it required the introduction of a Soundmask system – to impart a level of non-intrusive sound to the office environment.

Because the air-conditioning and other services are all installed in the under floor system there are no suspended ceilings (where a traditional system would be placed). Therefore the speakers are located within the underfloor system.

This has proven extremely successful in introducing a non-intrusive background sound giving comfort , speech confidentiality , and reducing the intrusion of surrounding noise.

The accompanying photos show the unique roofing and flooring for this office, and the custom under-floor Soundmask system that we provided.